Delinquent mortgages, neglected swimming pools, and West Nile virus, California

Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Nov;14(11):1747-9. doi: 10.3201/eid1411.080719.

Abstract

Adjustable rate mortgages and the downturn in the California housing market caused a 300% increase in notices of delinquency in Bakersfield, Kern County. This led to large numbers of neglected swimming pools, which were associated with a 276% increase in the number of human West Nile virus cases during the summer of 2007.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • California / epidemiology
  • Culex / virology
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Disease Reservoirs / virology
  • Housing / economics*
  • Humans
  • Insect Vectors / virology
  • Mosquito Control
  • Population Density
  • Population Surveillance
  • Risk Factors
  • Sparrows / virology
  • Swimming Pools*
  • West Nile Fever / epidemiology*
  • West Nile virus*